Anthony Daly (hurler)

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Anthony Daly
irish = Antoine Ó Dálaigh
fullname = Anthony Daly
placeofbirth = Clarecastle
countryofbirth = County Clare
dob =
height =
nickname =
county = Clare
province = Munster
club = Clarecastle
clposition = Left wing-back
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Clare
icposition = Left wing-back
icyears = 1990-2000
icapps(points) = 33 (0-9)
icprovince = 3
icallireland = 2
allstars = 3
clupdate =
icupdate =

Anthony Daly (born 1970 in Clarecastle, County Clare) is anIrish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Clarecastle and with the Clare senior inter-county team from 1990 until 2000. He is regarded as one of Clare's greatest-ever players.fact|date=April 2008 He later managed the Clare senior inter-county team from 2003 until 2006 and is currently the manager of the Kilmoyley club team in Kerry.

Early & private life

Anthony Daly was born in Clarecastle, County Clare in 1970. He was educated locally and showed great skill at the game of hurling in his youth. He later attended St. Flannan's College in Ennis. It was here that Daly first tasted hurling success when he won Harty Cup and All-Ireland Colleges title with the school in 1987. Daly later worked as a bank official, before leaving this job to open his own pub. He also owns a sport shop of his own name in Ennis.

On February 28, 2008 Daly was profiled on the TG4 television programme "Laochra Gael".

Playing career

Club

Daly played his club hurling with Clarecastle. During his club career he enjoyed much success. In 1991 he won his first Clare SHC medal with the club. A second county title followed in 1994. Daly captured his third county medal in 1997, before later defeating Patrickswell of Limerick to win a Munster club hurling title. The side were subsequently defeated in the All-Ireland club semi-final.

Inter-county

By the late 1980s Daly had come to the attention of the Clare inter-county selectors. He quickly joined the Clare minor team, however, he narrowly missed out on a Munster medal in 1989 as he was overage. Daly subsequently moved onto the inter-county under-21 team but had little success in this grade either.

In 1989 Daly played with the Clare senior team for the first time in a National Hurling League game against Waterford. He made his first Munster Championship appearance in 1990 when Clare took on Limerick. Two years later in 1992 he was appointed captain of the Clare senior hurling team, a position he held until 2000. Clare hurling was at a low-ebb in the early 1990s. The county lost back-to-back Munster finals in 1993 and 1994. On both occasions Clare were emphatically defeated by huge margins, however, Daly was honoured with an All-Star in 1994. In 1995 Ger Loughnane took over as manager of the Clare team and made sweeping changes. As a result Daly went on to win his first Munster title in 1995. He later captained Clare to their first All-Ireland title since 1914.

In 1996 Clare dramatically lost their Munster and All-Ireland titles in a first-round meeting with Limerick. Clare were back in 1997 with Daly captaining his team to a second Munster title. He later captured his second All-Ireland medal following a one-point win over Tipperary. In winning the 1997 All-Ireland final Clare beat Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary - the big three of hurling. In doing so they became only the second team ever, along with Waterford, to achieve this. Daly was once again honoured with an All-Star award. In 1998 he claimed his third Munster medal, however, following a bizarre three-game battle with Offaly, Clare, the red-hot favourites, were knocked out of the championship.

The following few seasons proved difficult for Daly and Clare. A young Cork team emerged, winning Munster titles in 1999 and 2000. Following the conclusion of the championship in 2000 Daly decided to retire from inter-county hurling.

Managerial career

tats

Overview

In 2004 Daly returned to the Clare senior team, this time as manager. He enjoyed some success in this role, however, Clare fell short of achieving another All-Ireland title. In 2005 Daly’s side had the reigning All-Ireland champions, Cork, on the ropes in the All-Ireland semi-final. Clare lead by six points at one stage, however, Cork fought back to defeat Clare by just one point. In 2006 Clare played Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final once again, however, Clare were defeated once again. Following this defeat Daly resigned as manager. He was replaced by former selector Tony Considine.

Teams